They're in it for themselves. And their teammates, in some cases. Their coaches, their families and their friends, too.
But when you've been to an Olympics or two. Or three or more, in the case of Ann Arbor's Evan Bates, who'll be making his fourth trip — something no other American figure skater has ever done before — as part of Team USA's 223-athlete contingent for the 2022 Beijing Games, you realize it's even bigger than all that.
"The coolest thing, I think, is the opportunity to inspire," said Bates, 32, who is a strong contender for a medal in ice dancing after winning his third U.S. national title with longtime partner Madison Chock earlier this month. "And we all have that opportunity now as Olympians for the next generation of skaters or any athlete out there who's gonna be a future Olympian. They're out there, and they're watching. And I remember being that kid, watching the Games and dreaming of going to the Olympics."
